Tuesday, 4 June 2019

The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) plans
to venture into commercial production of mbanje at Chiredzi Prison to raise
revenue to stave off pressure and over-reliance on the fiscus.

ZPCS has since formally applied to the Government for a
licence to grow mbanje, among other projects earmarked for Masvingo Province.

Officer Commanding ZPCS Masvingo Senior Assistant
Commissioner Social Ndanga last week said his organisation was conducting
feasibility studies to establish the efficacy of mbanje production in the
Lowveld.

“We are carrying out feasibility studies at the moment to
see whether we can commercially grow cannabis in the Lowveld because our target
is to reduce our reliance on the national fiscus by generating our own revenue
as an organisation.

“Cannabis production is just but one of several
income-generating projects that we are considering in line with devolution.

“We are also identifying potential income-generating
projects within our province so that we go for them instead of just folding our
hands and waiting for Government to do everything for us. What we are doing is
out of the realisation that Government has a lot of responsibilities, we need
to think outside the box as Zimbabweans and device methods of revenue
generation and remove pressure from the national purse.’’

Snr Asst Comm Ndanga said cannabis production was
potentially lucrative because of the herb’s proven medicinal use.

“We do not intend to produce cannabis for prisoners, but
one of the requirements of the Ministry of Health and Child Care is that for a
mbanje growing licence to be issued, there has to be guarantees of security and
availability of land and Chiredzi Prison is secure enough for the herb to be
grown while land is also available,” he said.

Besides mbanje, Snr Asst Comm Ndanga said his organisation
had applied for land to grow sugar cane in the Lowveld to generate revenue. Herald